Hay-stacker.



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'Patnted bec. 23, |902.

c, w. NlcKEu..

HAY STACKER. (Applicatian med me. 2o, 1901.)

(llo Model.)

W/TNESSES Patented nee. 23, i902,

HAY s'rAcKER. (Appmatio med 1m-n 20, 1901.;

4 Sheeis-Sheet 2.

(Ru Modal.)

Wl TNE SSE S Y Patented Dec. 23,1902.

Y nu. 716,745.

c. w. maken.. HAY STACKER. @ppumion med Dec. 2b; 11am.)`

4 Sheets-Sheet 3; l

(Ile Marmi.)

Z'ckell WITNESSES.'

A Home rs m.v 7|s,745. l l Patentedbmz's, |902. c. w. mcKELL.

HAY STACKEB. (Apptin led Det. 420, 190x.)

(un Modal.) 4 shmsfsheet 4.

Vto

Unire 'Serres CHARLES TELINGTON NICKELL, OF .IAMESPOR/f, MISSOURI.

HAY-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION Iormjngpart of Letters-Patent No. 716,745, dated December 23, 1902. Application niet December 29.1901. serial no. 86,670. (No man.)

a resident of Jamesport, inthe county of Daviess and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Hay-Stacker, of which the.

following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved hay-stacker simple in con? struction and durable in operation and so designed that the load can be easily raisedand can be lowered without the necessity of back-A ing up the draft-animal used.

The apparatus comprises, essentially, three partsto wit, a support or mast, a fork-carrying boom, and a power mechanism for raising and lowering the fork-carrying boom. These three essential parts are so designed that they can be detached the one from the other, so that the `entire apparatus can be readily transported to a meadow.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then point-v ed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formiuga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a rear end elevation of my improved hay-stacker. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a partial section of a detail to' be hereinafter described. Fig. l is a top plan view of part of the power mechanism employed. Fig; 5 is a side elevation of the ferie.l carrying boom and its fork. Fig. 6 is'atop plan view of the fork-carrying boom and its' fork. Fig. 7- is a partial cross-sectional view of a trigger employed for releasingr the trip' mechanism, whereby the fork is allowed to fall; and Fig. 8 is a general perspective view Y of the entire apparatus.

The support comprises a bed or base upon yto the bottom member 3 of the mast. be observed from Fig. 1 that the same slotand-bolt connection is provided for the members l2 and 14 of the outriggers, as has been A short tie 9 is bolted to the post 6, and tol the said tie 9 an inclined brace 10 is secured by means of a strap 11, of metal, bent to embrace the brace 10. A bolt is passed through the strap l11 and the tie 9, and bolts secure the strap and inclined brace together. The inclined brace l0 at its lower end is secured to the longitudinally-ranging member 1, said longitudinally-ranging mem ber being formed, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, with a slot which is designed to receive abolt passing through the lower end of the brace 10, the parts being securely held together by means of a nut screwed on the bolt. By reason of this arrangement the structure of the mast can be stiffened as desired by adjusting the brace through the medium of the slot and bolt. To the ends of the tie 9 the members 12 of swinging ou triggers or su pportin g-braekets are pivoted by bent metal straps 13. (See Fig. 1.) The remaining portions of the outriggers eonsist of horizontal members 14, secured to the members 12 and pivoted to a bar 15, bolted It will described in connection with the inclined brace 10 and the longitudinally-ranging member 1 of the bed. By reason of this construction the hay-stacker can be conveniently carried to the eld with the outriggers folded against the longitudinally-ranging member l of the bed, set up in position, and the outriggers swung into the position shown in'Fig. 1 to provide a broad and substantial support for the entire apparatus.

The fork-carryin g boom includes in its construction two substantially parallel members 1G and the forwardly-extending members 19,

secured and braced rigidly together, said IOO v a slide 29 is held between the said ears.

members 16 of the boom being secured together and carried by trunnions 17 of a sleeve 18, embraced by the beams 16. When the hay-stacker is in use, the sleeve 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, rests upon the sleeve 8, surrounding the pintle 7, and sustains the forkcarrying boom in such a manner that it can be readily swung from side to side or up and down. It is evident from this peculiar construction that the fork-carrying boom can readily be detached from the remaining portions of the apparatus simply `by raising the sleeve 18 from the pintle 7. The divergent members 19 of the boom are rigidly fastened to the members 16 somewhat to the rear of the sleeve 18, said members 19 being tied together by a cross-bar 20. For the purpose of strengthening the connection between the members 16 and the members 19 I employ stiffening-rods 2l, extending from the forward ends of the members 16 to the forward ends of the members 19. The forward ends of the members 19 are provided with apertures to receive the pivot-pins 22 on two of the tines 23 of the fork, whereby the fork is enabled to swing vertically independently of the entire boom, so that the load can be readilydischargedwithoutlowering the boom. The tines 23, as indicated in Fig. 1, are co1- lectively screwed or otherwise fastened to a bar 24 and individually connected at their rear ends with vertically-ranging bars 25, forming each a right angle with its respective tine. The bars 25 are united by a cross-bar 26, to which an ear 27 is secured. By means of a pin 28, passing through the ear 27, the forward end of The slide 29 forms part of a trip mechanism, whereby the fork is caused to swing down by gravity in order to discharge its load. A yoke 30, secured to the rear end of the slide 29, glides on a pivoted bar 3l, the forward movement of the yoke and slide being limited bya stop 32 on the bar 31, against which stop a pin 33, connecting the members of the yoke, is adapted to impinge. On its under side the bar 31 is provided with a catch 34 of triangular shape. The slide 29 is provided with a latch 35, comprising two cheek-plates fastened to the sides of the slide, in which cheek-plates a trigger 36, bent so as to form two parallel horizontal portions 36n and 36", is mounted to swing. A rope 37'is fastened to the trigger 36 and passed over an idler 38. When the forkis in the position shown in Fig. 5, a backward pull on the rope 37 will first swing the trigger up and then draw the slide 29, and consequently the fork, back along the bar 3l until the latch 35 passes behind the catch 34. The fork will then appear in the position shown in Fig. 2. By pulling the rope 37 again the portion 36n of the trigger will ride up the forwardly-extending incline of the catch 34 and raise the pivoted bar 3l until it lies against the slide 29. The weight of the hay will then be free to swing the fork down, thereby carrying the slide 29 forward along the bar 31 until arrested bythe stop 32, the latch 35 traveling to the forward end of the bar 31, as shown in Fig. 5. By means of ropes 39, secured to the sides of the fork, it is possible to swing the fork from side to side.

The rear end of the bar 31 is pivoted between the members of the forked end of a lever 40, fulcrumed in the forward ends of the beams 16. The rear forked end of the lever 40 is pivoted toa link 41, which is in turn pivoted on a lug 42, projecting from the sleeve 18. It is evident that the bar 31, the lever 40, and the link 41 form a system of compound levers, so that when the rear ends of the beams 16 are depressed the several elements of the system of compound levers will slightly depress the fork and so that when the rear ends of the beams 16 are elevated the fork in descending will be slightly tilted. Thus a fairly constant position of the fork is maintained within certain limits, whatever may be the up-and-down motion of the boom.

To complete' the apparatus thus far described, a power-mechanism of some kind is necessary whereby to raise and lower the boom. Iemploya tackle comprising two pulley-blocks 43, held between the rear ends of the beams 16, and a single pulley-block 44,

- hooked to an eye 45 on the bottom member 3 of the mast. A hoisting-rope 46 is rove through the blocks 43 and 44 over the sheaves thereof in the well-known manner and over the sheaves ofa pulley-block 47, hooked to any stationary part. One end of the rope is fastened to a stationary part ofthe pulley-block 44, and the other end is secured to a hoisting drum or windlass 48, loosely mounted on a shaft 49. The windlass and shaft can be made to rotate together or independently by means of clutch members 50, Fig. 4. When the clutch members are interlocked, the windlass and shaft turn together. When the clutch members are disengaged, the windlass rotates independently of the shaft. Since the windlass and shaft are to turn together only in raising the fork, I provide the shaft with a ratchetwheel 51, engaged by a pawl 52, so that the shaft and windlass can turn together only in one direction. The pawl 52 is pivoted to a cross-piece 53, uniting two lugs 54 and 55, projecting, respectively, from the bottom member 3 of the mast and one of the inclined side members4of the mast. In order to disengage and interlock the clutch members 50, I fulcrum on the lug 54 alever 56, secured to that clutch member which is splined 011 the shaft 49, the other clutch member being fast on the hoisting drum or windlass 48. The lever 56 is in turn operatively connected with one end of a bell-crank lever 57, fulcrumed on the lug 55, the other end of the lever being detachably connected by a link 58 with a cord or rod 59. As shown in Fig. 1, said cord or rod 59 is fastened to the short arm of a lever 60, fulcrumed on the bolt by whichA the members 12 and 14 of the Outrigger are held together.

IOO

IIO

The cord or rod 59 is likewise connected byalinlr 61. with a brake-shoe 62, pivoted on the lug 55. The shaft 49 being turned in the proper direction by any available power, the hoisting drum or windlass 48 will likewise be turned, so as to wind up the rope 46, thereby drawing on the rear end of the beam 16 and elevating the fork. In order to allow the fork to descend, it is not necessary to reverse the power or to back up the draft-animal, but the lever 60 is swung so as to pull upon the rope or rod 59, whereby the bell-crank lever 57 will withdraw the clutch member of the shaft 49 from the clutch member of the windlass. The windlass will turn independently of the shaft 49 under the influence of the weight of the hay in the fork, so that the fork-carrying boom will descend as the rope is paid out. As the bell-crank lever 57 is operated, the brake-shoe 62 will be brought into contact with the hoisting drum or windlass 48, so as to regulate the speed of the boom. In order to interlock the clutch members 50 again, I coil about the shaft 49, between the ratchet-wheel 5]. and the adjacent clutch member 50,3. spring 63. It is evident that when under the influence of the bell-crank lever 57 the movable clutch member-50 is withdrawn from the windlass clutch member, the spring 63 will be compressed so that when the lever 60 is released the clutch members will be interlocked automatically by reason.

spread in Vthe manner indicated in Fig. l.

The shaft (35 of the 4horse-power will then be coupled to the shaft 49 and the sleeve 1S of the fork-carrying boom will be slipped over the pintle 7, carried by the post 6. The tackle is then arranged in proper position and the apparatus is ready for use. The fork being loaded, the shaft 49 is turned, the hoistingdrum 4S winds up the rope, the fork is raised to the desired elevation, the boom is swung by means of one of the rods 39 to the stack, the rope 37 attached to the trigger is pulled, and the hay is dumped on the stack by its own weight, as it causes the fork toswing on the pivots 22.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A hay-stackerhavingasupportingstructure; a boom mounted to swing horizontally and vertically on the `supporting structure; a fork pivoted on the boom to swing independently thereof; a bar; a slide carried by the fork and adapted to glide on the bar in response to the motion of the pivoted fork; a catch on the bar; alatch on the slide, adapted to be held by the catch in order to support the fork in raised position; means forreleasing the slide-latch, in order to permit the fork to swing down by gravity; a lever fnlcrumed on the boom and pivoted to one end of the bar; and a link pivoted to the lever and having a center of oscillation different from the center of oscillation of the boom.

2. In a stacker, the combination with a suitable framework, and a swinging boom, of a fork pivoted io said boom, a lever fulcrumed on the boom, a-lnk p'ivoted to the lever and having an axis of movement located at a point to one side of the axis of oscillation of the lever, and operative connections between said lever and the pivoted fork to impart swinging movement to the latter in an opposite direction to the movement of the boom.

3. In a stacker, the combination with a framework, a swinging boom, and a fork pivoted to said boom, of a trip mechanism including a bar having a fixed point of resistance and carrying a catch, a slidable bar connected to the fork, and a latch movable with the slidable bar and adapted to be engaged with or disconnected from the catch.

4. Ahay-stacker comprising a supporting structure; a boom mounted to swing vertically and horizontally on the supporting structure; a fork pivoted on the boom to swingindependently thereof; a bar; a slide carried by the fork and adapted to glide on the bar in response to the motion of the pivoted fork; a lever connection between the bar and a center of oscillation off the center of vertical oscillation of the boom; and a trip mechanism for the bar and the slide, said trip mechanism serving to hold the slide in one position on the bar and to release the slide for the purpose of permittingthe fork to swing down and discharge its load.

5. In a stacker, the combination with a framework, a swinging boom, and a fork pivoted to the boom, of trip mechanism including two bars arranged to have slidable movement with relation to one another, and one bar connected to the fork, and locking devices ior restraining such relative movement of the bars.

6. The combination of a supporting structure and hay-stacking devices carried thereby, said supporting structure comprising a base having a longitudinal member and members divergent therefrom; a mast having a bottom member uniting the divergent members and fastened to the longitudinal member of the baseyan inclined brace extending from the top of the mast to the forward end of the longitudinal member of the base; and pivotally-mounted supporting-brackets adapted in an inactive position to lie one on either side of the brace and adapted when horizontally swung to provide lateral supports 'for the supporting structure.

7. The combination of a supporting struc- ICO ture and hay-stacking devices carried there by, said supporting structure comprising a base, a mast secured on the base and having two upwardly-converging members, a crosspiece uniting the said members, andra post rising from the cross-piece and adapted to carry the hay-stacking devices; and supporting-brackets pivoted to the mast and to the base, said supporting-brackets, when swung outwardly, serving as auxiliary supports for the hay-stacker.

8. In a stacker, the combination with a framework, a swinging boom, and a fork pivoted to said boom, of a trip mechanism including two bars arranged for relative slidable movement, one bar being connected to the fork, cooperative devices on the respective bars for having engagement with one another, and a line-controlled trigger carried by one of said bars and adapted to engage with the device on the other bar.

9. In a stacker, the combination with a framework, a swinging boom, and a fork pivoted to said boom, of atrip mechanism including two bars arranged for relative slidable movement, one bar being pivoted to the fork and the other bar being connected to a lever which has a fixed point of resistance at one side of the aXis of oscillation of the boom, and locking devices between the two bars to restrain them from relative slidable'movement.

10. In a stacker, the combination with a suitable framework, a swinging boom, and a fork, of a tackle connected to the boom, a drum-shaft, a drum on which is coiled the cable of said tackle, a clutch arranged to make said drum fast with the shaft so as to allow the drum to turn idly on the shaft on the descent of the boom, means for restraining the drum-shaft from rotation in a backward direction, a clutch-shipping lever, and a brake-shoe operatively related to the drum and controllable by the clutch-shipping lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES WELINGTON NICKELL.

Witnesses:

L. G. WELLS, F. C. MCCLUNG. 

